frequent
pronunciation
How to pronounce frequent in British English:
UK ['friːkw(ə)nt]
How to pronounce frequent in American English:
US ['frikwənt]
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- Verb:
- do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
- be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place
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- Adjective:
- coming at short intervals or habitually
- frequently encountered
Word Origin
- frequent
- frequent: [16] Frequent comes from Latin frequēns, which meant ‘crowded’ as well as ‘regularly repeated’ (it is not known what the origins of frequēns were, although it may be related to Latin farcīre ‘stuff’, source of English farce). The sense ‘crowded’ was carried over into English along with ‘regularly repeated’, but it had virtually died out by the end of the 18th century. The verb frequent [15] goes back to Latin frequentāre ‘visit frequently or regularly’.
- frequent (adj.)
- mid-15c., "ample, profuse," from Old French frequent, or directly from Latin frequentem (nominative frequens) "often, regular, repeated; in great numbers, crowded, numerous, filled, full, populous," which is of uncertain origin. Watkins says probably from PIE *bhrekw- "to cram together," and compares Greek phrassein "to fence in," Latin farcire "to cram." Meaning "common, usual" is from 1530s; that of "happening at short intervals, often recurring" is from c. 1600.
- frequent (v.)
- late 15c., "visit or associate with," from Old French frequenter "attend frequently; assemble, gather together," from Latin frequentare "visit regularly; do frequently, repeat; assemble in throngs," from frequentem (see frequent (adj.)). Meaning "visit often" is from 1550s. Related: Frequented; frequenter; frequenting.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Will frequent trims really make your hair grow faster ?
- 2. So improvements are both frequent and peculiarly disruptive .
- 3. Most of the time I decline , especially for stores I rarely frequent .
- 4. Be sure your child care provider promotes frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers .
- 5. Frequent minor blackouts are common .